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Biography information for Eddie Hughes

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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made
of the potential merits of (a) increased data sharing with social landlords and (b)
other enhancements of the Trusted Partner Status programme with housing associations.

<p>The Department is continuing to consider how they can develop its Trusted Partner
Status programme. This requires careful consideration and evaluation surrounding how
we manage data security, whilst realising the advantages that data sharing with partner
organisations brings to our claimants.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with a wide and
diverse range of stakeholders to design any future processes.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employers have signed
up to the Government’s voluntary reporting framework on disability, mental health
and wellbeing since it was launched in November 2018.

<p>The voluntary reporting framework was developed by the Government in partnership
with employers and expert partners to support organisations to record and voluntarily
report information on disability, mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. This
approach recognises the potential power of transparency, both for employees within
organisations and for external audiences. The Government continues to work with employers
(including the Civil Service and the NHS) and expert partners to encourage sign up,
but there is no requirement for them to notify the Government of how they are using
it.</p><p> </p>

<p>The Health and Safety Executive conducted an external consultation, between November
2016 and January 2017, on proposals to review aspects of the Gas Safety (Installation
and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR) whilst maintaining high gas safety standards.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department
has made of the effectiveness of the GovCoin trial; and what plans her Department
has for the future use of that technology.

<p>A small proof-of-concept trial was undertaken in 2016. The trial was led by Universal
Credit officials who worked with DISC Holdings (formerly Govcoin) to trial an app
on a mobile phone that customers could use to receive and manage benefit payments.</p><p>
</p><p>The trial provided valuable insight into customer needs, and this was used
to inform the decision to develop a future method of payment strategy that outlines
DWP’s commitment to improving the methods available to make payments to customers.
The Department is currently working with industry to identify new and emerging payment
opportunities that suit the needs of DWP and its customers, in support of the future
strategy.</p>

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department
has made of the potential benefits of using blockchain for the the welfare and benefits
system; and if she will make a statement.

<p>We are committed to harnessing the potential of new technologies in making a positive
difference to our customers’ lives. In 2016, we ran a pilot to explore whether a product
by GovCoin (now DISC) could help some Universal Credit customers budget. The product
utilised blockchain technology.</p><p> </p><p>The pilot that ended in early 2017,
provided valuable insight into customer needs, and this was used to inform the decision
to develop a future method of payment strategy that outlines DWP’s commitment to improving
the methods available to make payments to customers.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to
explore payment innovations, including distributed ledger and blockchain technologies
and their potential to securely deliver services that our customers rely on.</p><p>
</p>

<p>This Government is committed to enabling young disabled people to fulfil their
potential and achieve their aspirations. We provide a range of programmes and initiatives
to support them, including:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Jobcentre support for schools, which
targets young people that schools identify as being at risk of becoming NEET (not
in employment, education or training), or who may otherwise be disadvantaged in the
labour market – for example those with a health or disability issue.</li></ul><p>
</p><ul><li>The Young Person’s Supported Work Experience programme, which offers a
personally tailored supported work experience opportunity for young people (aged 18
– 24) to enable them to fully benefit from time in the work place. This proof of concept
is being tested in five Jobcentre Plus districts.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Tri-Work,
a supported work experience proof of concept aimed at young people with special educational
needs in years 10/11 in schools and special schools. This proof of concept is being
tested in three local authorities.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The Local Supported Employment
(LSE) proof of concept ‘place and train’ model, which aims to move disabled people
into real jobs, at the going rate of pay, with support for both the individual and
employer. This is being tested in nine local authorities.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Supported
Internships, which all qualified post-16 education providers in England have been
able to deliver Since September 2013. These are personalised study programmes, based
primarily at a prospective employer, for young people with complex learning difficulties
and/or disabilities.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Access to Work, which already offers
support to disabled people undertaking a number of opportunities that help them to
prepare for paid employment, including work experience, apprenticeships, supported
internships and traineeships.</li></ul>

The Government is committed to helping men and women to balance work and childcare
between them. It is good for parents and children, as well as being an important way
to address the Gender Pay Gap. Shared Parental Leave and the right to request flexible
working enables parents to arrange work and care in a way that works for them.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) fiscal and (b) regulatory steps his
Department is taking to (i) support UK and (ii) encourage overseas blockchain and
crypto-based companies establish themselves in the UK.

<p>The Government has invested over £10 million through Innovate UK and the research
councils to support a wide variety of DLT related projects. The Government has also
created a £20 million GovTech Catalyst Fund to explore technology-based solutions
for public sector challenges, potentially including the use of DLT.</p><p> </p><p>The
Government set out its approach to cryptoassets and the underlying distributed ledger
technology (DLT) in the report of the Cryptoassets Taskforce<sub><sub>[1]</sub></sub>.
The Government wants to encourage responsible development of legitimate distributed
ledger technology (DLT) and cryptoasset-related activity in the UK, while also mitigating
risks.</p><p> </p><p>The financial regulators continue to provide a platform that
facilitates innovation and the development of new technologies in the financial system.
For example, the Financial Conduct Authority has accepted a significant number of
DLT-based projects into its Regulatory Sandbox. The Bank of England has also committed
to ensure that its new RTGS service will be compatible with DLT-based payment systems.</p><p>[1]
The full report of the HM Treasury/Financial Conduct Authority/Bank of England Cryptoassets
Taskforce is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/752070/cryptoassets_taskforce_final_report_final_web.pdf</p>

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 February 2018
to Question 128296 on Brexit, if he will provide an update on (a) the potential use
of distributed ledger technology for any new customs system after the UK leaves the
EU and (b) the outcome of the proof of concept trials referenced in the Answer.

<p>The pilot focussed on building a single ‘permissioned’ Blockchain that could be
used to inform a trader’s ‘Authorised Economic Operator’ status. The proof of concept
ran for six weeks, and established that government could use Blockchain to securely
share the results of sensitive risk checks to improve the efficiencies of certain
customs processes.</p><p> </p><p>Any significant implementation of Blockchain would
require significant further work by HMRC. Further work on the application of Blockchain
to ‘Authorised Economic Operator’ status is deferred until after the UK leaves the
EU when timescales and cost will be revisited.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with the
cross government Future Borders Programme to progress the pilot as part of their Trusted
Trader initiative</p><p> </p>